Origin
Lakeland, FL
Afternoon in Lakeland on Wednesday
Local time
4:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lakeland, FL to Brandon, FL
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
40m
Distance
26.6 mi
43 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 37m
★
6 AM
0h 41m
8 AM
0h 48m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 43m
3 PM
0h 44m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lakeland, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Brandon, FL
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Lakeland, FL to Brandon, FL covers 26.6 miles and takes about 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Lake Morton Drive, South Iowa Avenue, East Lemon Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.23 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
13.3 miles from Lakeland, FL
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 40m drive with frequent turns across 26.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lake Morton Drive is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Lakeland, FL to Brandon, FL is easy. At 40m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lakeland, FL to Brandon, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Morton Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Iowa Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Lemon Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Lake Beulah Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sloan Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| George Jenkins Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New Tampa Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Park Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Lake Morton Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lakeland, FL and Brandon, FL.
1
Start on East Walnut Street
423 ft
·
19 sec
·
East Walnut Street
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto Lake Morton Drive
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Lake Morton Drive
3
Turn right onto South Iowa Avenue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
South Iowa Avenue
4
Continue on East Lemon Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Lemon Street
5
At the end of the road, turn right onto Lake Beulah Drive
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Lake Beulah Drive
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Sloan Avenue
105 ft
·
2 sec
·
Sloan Avenue
7
Exit the roundabout onto Sloan Avenue
489 ft
·
14 sec
·
Sloan Avenue
8
Turn left onto George Jenkins Boulevard
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
George Jenkins Boulevard
9
Continue on New Tampa Highway
7.2 mi
·
10 min
·
New Tampa Highway
10
Turn left onto Park Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Park Road
11
Continue on Jim Johnson Road
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
Jim Johnson Road
12
Turn right onto East Alexander Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Alexander Street
13
Turn left onto James L Redman Parkway
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
James L Redman Parkway
14
Turn right onto West State Road 60
8.3 mi
·
11 min
·
West State Road 60
15
Continue straight
1.8 mi
·
2 min
16
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 13.3 miles from Lakeland, FL, or about 20m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 26.6 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 13.3 miles or 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brandon, FL than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Lakeland, FL.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lakeland, FL
This is one driving day of about 26.6 miles and 40m.
At 26.6 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 13.3 mi from Lakeland, FL · 20m into the drive
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 26.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 13.3 miles from Lakeland, FL, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Brandon, FL
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Brandon, FL if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.23 one way
$8.47 round trip
$4.04/gal
25.4 MPG avg
9 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.40 | $4.61 | $9.21 |
| premium | $4.72 | $4.95 | $9.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.87 | $11.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$29–$54
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8 | 0 | $2.79 | $1.28 |
| Efficient EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.33 | $1.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.72 | $1.70 |
Gas CO2
9 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Brandon, FL
Afternoon in Brandon on Wednesday
Local time
4:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
40m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Lakeland, FL to Brandon, FL covers 26.6 miles and takes about 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lake Morton Drive, South Iowa Avenue, East Lemon Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.3 miles from Lakeland, FL. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.23 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Lakeland, FL to Brandon, FL is easy. At 40m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lakeland, FL to Brandon, FL is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lakeland, FL to Brandon, FL does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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